Friday, November 25, 2005

"Female genital mutilation is carried out on at least 3 million women and girls a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, says a new Unicef report. Nearly half of those circumcised, a tradition believed to enhance a girl's beauty, tame her sexual desires, maintain her honour and increase her marriage prospects, are in Egypt and Ethiopia. Most are cut between ages four to 12. Unicef says the life-risking custom, which is largely a social practice, not a religious one, could be eliminated within a generation with government backing, but there should be a "collective choice" not a ban."

Comic by Terry Furry, reproduced from "Heard the One About the Funny Leftist?" by Cris Thompson, East Bay Express

As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.

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